The Digital Fix: Television

The Kumars are back!

The Kumars are back! “Who?” I hear you ask, even though this is impossible because I am writing this in the past and I shall not delve into the geographical differences. They are comedy’s favourite Indian family and they are moving to Sky1 to film a pilot for a new series of their chat show.

Their new series The Kumars at No. 42B will see the family relocate from their Wembley detached abode to a flat behind a gift shop due to the tough economic times. The original The Kumars at No. 42 ran on BBC Two and later BBC One from 2001-2006 for seven series. The format follows Sanjeev Bhaskar (as Sanjeev Kumar) attempting to host a serious celebrity chat show whilst being interrupted by his mother, father and inappropriate grandmother, Ummi (played by Meera Syal).

The producers of the pilot have revealed:

"Sanjeev is divorced from his wife of nearly two years, Bindiya, but they share custody of their precocious 8 year old daughter. Mum, Madhuri, is intent on setting him up with a high profile celebrity and has a keen interest in online dating agencies and of course Ummi (Sanjeev's Granny) is still there with her wicked sense of mischief and liquidised lunches."

Sanjeev Bhuskar told The Sun in March last year that he hoped the show would return. He said that they had “never got politicians on the show when it originally aired but I'd love to, particularly ones from the Coalition."

Bhuskar said last week:

"It's incredibly exciting to revisit these warm, oddball characters and to be given the opportunity to bring them up to date. We've tried to retain what viewers loved about the original show and to inject new characters and elements in a slightly new format that we hope will appeal to an even broader audience."

Lucy Lumsden, the Sky1 commissioner added:

"It's a welcome return for the Kumars. We're thrilled that they've chosen Sky 1 HD and Hounslow as their new home."

The pilot for The Kumars at No. 42B will be recorded on the 18th May at The London Studios, with the pilot screening in the Autumn. For a quick taste of what's to come, here is Stephen Fry appearing on the show in 2002:

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